Though I do identify as an introvert in most cases, these two articles perfectly capture some of my recent thoughts about introversion vs. extroversion and the whole “introvert movement.” I still love the whole study of personality types and I always have fun with introvert-centered pictures, memes, articles, and all that, but I do think that in real-life living and relationships it’s about time we left off our extreme labeling (and resulting prejudices) and simply focused on being ourselves, in our own unique and special ways.

This is part 2 of my “Introvert Problems” blog series. You can read part 1 here.

Here you go– Seven more problems that we introverts deal with on a regular basis.

1. When you need to take time to prepare yourself for any upcoming event or party where there is any kind of social interaction or activity (my sister laughed at this concept when I tried to explain it to her . . . apparently it’s a very foreign idea to the extrovert sphere).

If someone springs any kind of spontaneous thing on me that involves a lot of people I have to work hard to keep the panicky or nervous butterflies feeling from taking over my body. Yikes!! For future reference, if you want me to go to any social thing with you please plan on telling me about it at least a week in advance for me to properly process the idea in my mind. Thank you. (Ok, I don’t always need that much time, but I do really appreciate a decent amount of warning. However depending on what it is, I might need a week.)

2. When you can’t just sit quietly and seriously in one place not doing or saying anything, without someone asking you, “Are you ok?”

Uh, thank you for your concern, but yes, I actually just like to sit and not smile or talk every once in a while, because constant smiling and talking is so much against my natural tendency. That doesn’t mean that something is wrong with me, or that I’m grumpy or mad. I’m just being my normal contemplative self.

3. When you love being home alone but you don’t want to make your family feel bad when they come home or think that you don’t want them there even though you kind of don’t . . .

. . . but that’s nothing against them–I love my family a lot!–it’s just that people are people, no matter who they happen to be.

4. When you really like taking pictures of people but you have a subconscious standard of how close you can get to people with a camera without them noticing your presence, and so you either deal with zoomed-out and/or slightly blurry photos or resort to spending lots of money on telephoto lenses (which is not all bad because telephoto lenses are just awesome anyways).

5. When you don’t look forward to your birthday because on that dreadful day all the attention is directly. on. you. *cue ominous music*

And the worst part is opening your presents. Even if it’s just your family! True story.

6. When you have to eat a meal with other people outside of your family, and you have to be extra careful to not slurp or burp or make a mess, and everyone is at the same table facing toward each other and they’re all looking at you.

A twisted extrovert invention, I guarantee you.

7. When you wonder if you are taking this introvert thing too seriously . . .

I mean, really, am I just weird or paranoid or something? Is this something that I should try to get over? What’s the correct balance between being myself, true to my nature, and getting too far into the fear of man or something?

Hmm. So what do you think?

Let me know your thoughts on introvert problems whether you are an introvert or not, and be sure to subscribe to my blog so you get notifications of each new post! Thanks for reading!

Lately, my posts have all been on the more serious or spiritual side, which is great, but I thought it was time for a slightly more lighthearted post.

About . . . introvertedness!! One of my favorite subjects.

Why about that boring subject? Because, well, for one, I am one (an introvert – not boring). Two, I think non-introverts sometimes need a little help understanding our kind. Three, I want to let other introverts out there know that they aren’t alone in this. Four, I just want to make my (older, highly extroverted) sister laugh. Because I know it will. *wink*

Okay, here’s my list of problems that I personally deal with on a regular basis. I hope some of you fellow introverts can relate to some of these.

1. Wanting to leave a party or church get-together so I can go sit in the car and read.

This happens to me almost every time. Unless it is a small group of close friends and I’m winning at the game or activity we’re doing (or there is really good food, especially involving chocolate).

2. Making every possible effort to avoid having to talk to someone on the phone.

I’ll do anything else, write 17 emails, beg another family member to do it for me, text someone instead of calling, to keep from having to undertake that menacing task.

3. Taking a round-about route among the rows and walkways in Walmart (or any store/public place) to avoid other customers.

I’ve been known to cut through side rows, go around racks of clothes or duck behind stuff to keep from having to interact with or pass by other people (ahhhhh!!!!! – ahem, excuse me).

4. Waiting until everyone else leaves a public restroom before exiting the stall to wash my hands.

Tell me I’m not the only person who has done this. Or else this is super embarrassing, and I’m going to go crawl in a hole and send this blog into oblivion for all of eternity. But really, I just really like to minimize my contact with people if possible. I promise you I’m not crazy.

5. Crossing the road to avoid meeting another person on my side of the road.

Nope, I don’t hate you. I’m just . . . being an introvert.

6. Having an eloquent and well-thought-out discussion/argument all laid out in my head, and then opening my mouth to verbalize it and what comes out makes no sense whatsoever. Having an amazing thought in my head, but not being able to express it.

This is one of the worst things about being a thinker rather than a talker. I need about an hour to write out my thoughts clearly, and then I’ll read them to you.

7. When visiting someone else’s house with a large group of people (esp. strangers), wandering through the house until I find a quiet room a safe distance away from the group and conducive to reflection and stimulation (ideally with lots of books in it).

It’s like taking a deep breath of fresh air to find that haven of solitude.

8. Having a hard time not getting upset when someone interrupts my internal dialogue.

Sometimes I have such stimulating and intricate trails of thought in my head and it can be a little frustrating to have them interrupted.

9. Wanting to take the stairs instead of the elevator because there might be people in the elevator – oh, the horror.

I’ve always wanted to try those pranks that you do to a group in an elevator, but I don’t know if I’d ever get enough courage to actually do them.

10. Dreading when visitors stay at our house, because that means that I have to look alive at all times.

Again, I promise that it’s never because I don’t like you or I hate people. It’s just so stressful for me because I’m not a natural entertainer. If I lived alone and had to have you stay at my house, I’d probably set up a complicated scavenger hunt for you outside, send you off, and then retreat to my room and books.

11. Wanting to escape to a far-away place with minimal human interaction, but still keep my internet connection.

Yes, I love interacting with people when they can’t see or hear me.

12. People assuming that “sweet and quiet” is all there is to my personality.

I’ll let this meme say it for me:

. . . unless you take the time to really get to know me.

13. People thinking that when I’m sitting by myself I must be terribly lonely and must wish that someone would come over and talk to me.

Ahem…I went over here in between the roses and the fence for a reason. Thank you very much.

Seriously, I actually really enjoy hanging out with myself. People should do it more often – they might just discover that they are pretty good company.

14. Saying something dumb or confusing in a conversation, and then spending the next three hours analyzing how I could have said it better.

The worst kind of disaster to relive in my mind . . .

15. Being at some place and wishing I could go home and hug my dog because she really understands how to be there for me without saying a word.

There’s a reason they are called man’s best friend.

Well, those are just a few of the traumas we introverts live through daily. Just kidding, they aren’t really that bad in the grand scheme of things. And being who I am is worth all the trouble along the way. I love who I am and my personality, although I haven’t always, and I know that God always has something to teach me through these things.

Just remember, even though your particular personality type tends toward certain characteristics or quirks, that is not always a good excuse for acting in a way that is not pleasing to God. I know I struggle a lot with how I am around people, but I also know that God has been teaching me through my struggles and improving those negative traits over the years, and He will help me to overcome them in time.

If you are an introvert (or even if you’re not) and you’d like to add to this list, please do so! I might do a part 2 one of these days.

Oh, and if you are interested in learning more about my interesting personality, take a look at this board over on my Pinterest. It’s a fun collection of memes and things that really describe my personality in a humorous manner.

Hope you enjoyed this, and thanks for reading!

(Update: I have indeed written a part 2 to this series since writing this post, so if you’d like to check it out, click here!)

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Hello! My name is Heather - writer, muser, book-lover, photographer, child of God, among many other things. Welcome to my blog, where I talk about life, books, random thoughts, and whatever God has been teaching me recently. I hope that you'll stay a while and I'd love to hear from you!